L.v.-area Congressmen Speak Their Way To Higher Incomes

Lehigh Valley area congressmen boosted their congressional salaries last year by practicing the art of speaking before a variety of organizations and special interests.

The House of Representatives yesterday released annual financial disclosure reports on how much outside income members of Congress made in 1984.

Under the Ethics in Government Act, all 535 members of Congress must list "earned" income, including the fees or honoraria received by members for speeches made away from the House or Senate floors.

The federal act limits the amount of income a member may earn above his or her congressional salary. In 1984, the salary was $72,366.63. The 30 percent limit allowed outside income totaling $21,709.99.

Ritter received $2,000 from the Electric Power Research Institute and $1,500 from the National Cable Television Association.

The Lehigh Valley congressman earned $1,000 in speaking fees from each of the following: Chemical Manufacturers Association, Allis Chalmers, The Fertilizer Institute, Coalition for Competition, National Association of Recycling Industries, and Tamkang University.

Ritter received speaking fees of $750 from the Atlantic Apparel Contractors and $500 from the Cabot Corp.

Some of the above organizations, particularly the Chemical Manufacturers Association, were undoubtedly interested in hearing from Ritter because he sits on several House subcommittees which consider legislation affecting their industries. He is on the House Energy and Commerce subcommittees on commerce, transportation and tourism (oversees Superfund), health and environment, and telecommunications, consumer protection and Finance, as well as the House Science and Technology subcommittees on science, research and technology, and natural resources, agriculture research, and environment.

Ritter reported reimbursement for travel, lodging and food by the China Association of Commerce and Industry for the China leg of his Asian trip last year, and by the Fuller Co. for the Japan leg of the trip.

Rep. Paul Kanjorski, D-11th District, began his first term this year. His 1984 income was $114,248.81 from his law practice and $2,499.64 from a bookkeeping salary.

Outside income for Rep. Gus Yatron, D-6th District, totaled $100 as an honorarium from the Reading High School Athletic Association and $6,356 from his state pension.

Rep. Joseph McDade, R-10th District, the minority chairman of the House Appropriations subcommittee on defense and the House Small Business Committee reported honoria totaling $21,710 in 1984.

McDade received $2,000 from each of the following: Lockheed-Georgia Co., General Electric, Avco, Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association, National Association of Americans of Asian Indian Descent, Silver Spring Enterprises, United Chem-Con Corp., and Touche Ross & Co.

He also received the following speech fees: $1,500 from Smithkline Beckman; $1,000 from each of General Dynamics Corp. and Ocean Spray Cranberries; $750 from Allied Corp., and $500 from each of the following Precision Co., Fortunato Sons Inc., and New Breed Leasing Corp. He further reported $250 from the National Coal Association.

Rep. Peter Kostmayer, D-8th District, failed to file a report. An aide to Kostmayer said the congressman had requested and received an extension on filing. The aide said the report should be available next week.

Rep. Lawrence Coughlin, R-13th District, reported speaking fees totaling $6,800 in 1984. Coughlin is on the House Appropriations subcommittees on transportation, District of Columbia, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Coughlin received $1,000 from each of the following: Air Transport Association, Pratt & Whitney Corp., and Lukens Steel Corp. He also reported $1,500 from General Aviation Manufacturers Association, $2,000 from Aydin Corp., and $300 from Philadelphia Prendcalt Organization.

Rep. John Murtha, D-12th District, reported outside income of $21,700.

Murtha is on the House Appropriations subcommittee on defense. He received $2,000 in speaking fees from each of the following: General Dynamic Land Systems, Oshkosh Truck Corp., American Defense Preparedness Association, General Electric Co., American President Lines Inc., AVCO Corp., and Oakland Port Authority.

Murtha received $4,000 from Aydin Corp., $700 from The Tobacco Institute, and $1,000 each from Steel Service Center Institute, American Public Transit Authority, and Kane Paper Corp.

Edgar received $1,000 in speaking fees from each of the following: TRW Inc., Ackerly Communications, and State Governments Education and Research Foundation; $1,500 from Atlantic Richfield Executive Seminar; $500 from Touche Ross & Co.; $300 from Philadelphia Presidents Organization; $350 from Bucks County Peace Fair; $255 from Council of State Governments; $250 from National Association of Regional Councils, and $200 from Easton College.

Edgar is a member of the House Public Works and Transportation Committee and the House Veterans Affairs Committee.